Staying Inside the City Walls in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Centuries ago, camel caravans used the Minorai Kalon — Great Minaret — of Bukhara as a landmark along the Silk Road (they could see it from miles away — “minora” means “lighthouse” in Arabic).

Today, travelers still come to this Uzbek city to see the 170-foot-tall minaret built in 1127. It’s a good way to orient yourself in the maze of streets inside the old city walls. Just to the south of the baked brick tower is a hotel of the same name: the Minorai-Kalon Hotel, H.Ibodova Street 11, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

It’s within walking distance of nearly all of the 140 or so mostly medieval historic monuments in this trading route city founded more than 2,500 years ago.

Decorating details in the hotel, built in 2012, are stunning, from the painted domed ceiling in the lobby (left) to the glazed tile adorning the atrium (right).

My room, about $85 including breakfast, was spacious but spare. Extravagantly patterned gold and navy blue carpeting and bed coverings (below) were offset with almost-plain beige walls and dark wood furniture. The utilitarian bathroom (with shower in the tub) was tiled in beige with plain white fixtures.

All the essentials were in place, including a hair dryer, television, desk and free WiFi (note: there’s no free bottled water, so buy your own on the way there).

As is typical of hotels in the region, there’s no elevator although there are 44 guest rooms on two levels (with a terrace-café at the third level on the roof). In addition, there are steps up to the front door and from the lobby to the bedroom level on the ground floor. Although the hotel didn’t have its own website when I was there in October, it’s easy to make a reservation via one of the booking sites such as Expedia.com.

Below is a view of the 12th Century Minorai Kalon (restored, of course).

About The Author

An award-winning writer, Susan McKee is an independent scholar, freelance journalist, and blogger specializing in history, culture, and travel. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).

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